component video

A video system that separates the luminance (brightness) signal from the chrominance (colour) signals or one that separates the signal into red, green and blue signals (RGB). Component video allows for higher quality video display than composite video, where the luminance and all of the chrominance information are all mixed into one signal.

RGB component video is used in computer displays, while the luma/chroma system is usually used for video. The luminance signal is known as the "Y" signal. In digital video the chrominance information is transmitted as two colour difference signals Cb and Cr which refer to the B-Y (blue-Y) and R-Y (red-Y) components, respectively. This system is known as YCbCr.

DVD players and high end televisions often incorporate component video inputs and outputs to allow the best possible video quality.